Canine Companions Barnes & Noble Gift Wrapping

Today my Mom, two brothers and I went to Barnes & Noble in Easton to wrap gifts for CCI. We were the only ones working the shift :( It was a lot of fun though. We only wrapped about 10 gifts, but we got a lot of donations and talked to plenty of people. Dembre was good and got lots of attention from Barnes & Noble employees and shoppers. We worked from 9:45 this morning until 2:00 in the afternoon, which was a long and kind of uneventful time. After that I went out to a late lunch with my Mom and little brother after dropping off my older brother at a friends house. We went to Marcella's, which is a Cameron Mitchell restaurant that serves Italian food. I was a little nervous that Dembre that we would have some problems with the servers, but they smiled and said that our dog was so cute and nice. We also did some other Thanksgiving weekend shopping.

Thanksgiving

My little guy at 12 weeks

Dembre & I enjoyed Thanksgiving at home with wonderful family and a great group of friends. Dembre did a quiet "down" under the table while we feasted. I'm sure that he was thinking "And all I get is dog food!" Service dogs do have to learn to be much more selfless than any puppy raiser. We enjoyed games, conversations, and lots of other fun. I can't believe we've entered the Christmas season!!!
I'm off school today, but we aren't really doing anything. It's "Black Friday", but no shopping or door buster deals for me.
I'm supposed to be working at the CCI Barnes & Noble gift wrapping for the early morning shift tomorrow morning. That shift is 9:45-2:00. Since Dembre and I are working at the Barnes & Noble in Easton we have to leave by 8:45 :( Plus we've had some problems with setting up our shift. Originally we were told by a volunteer helping set up the gift wrapping that we had to be there at 11:00 not 10:00. Then it was misunderstood that my Mom was going to volunteer too so basically I was the only one signed up. So we're still trying to figure out what to do, because my Mom's planning to drop Dembre and I off and there have to be two people working, which we don't think there are.

By the way everybody please stop by and follow the blog of CCI breeder mom Omeeka.

Things I'm thankful for

Dembre at 4 months old

Today I thought I'd post about some of the many things that I thank God for because it is Thanksgiving day. So here we go:

• I'm thankful for my family. They are always there to give me support in the many things that I do. And always love me for who I am.
• I'm thankful for my wonderful friends. My non-puppy raiser friends have cheered me on during my time with Dembre and been there to support me when I needed support the most. Thank you guys for all that you do
• I'm thankful for Dembre. He has taught me so much over my last six months as a CCI puppy raiser.
• I'm thankful for my puppy raising friends. Mary Beth and Marty you have taught me so much about dog training and raising Dembre to be his very best. Thank you for always being there when I needed help with Dembre's training and thanks for always being willing to watch him when I go out of town :D 
• I'm thankful for my church. They have supported me and have always made me feel closer to God. I thank God for my friends there who pray for me through the hard times and are always there to counsel me. Yes, many of my friends that I mentioned earlier in this post are also friends from church. 
• I'm thankful for freedom and that we can believe as we wish here in the U.S.
• I'm thankful for Pepin, my beloved golden girl. She has taught me so many life lessons. 
• Last, but not least I am thankful for all of my blogging friends. I don't think I have met a single one of you, but you guys have made my blog a special place and answered questions about dog training. I have enjoyed following your blogs to see what you guys are doing as puppy raisers and service teams or whatever you do. 

Have a great Thanksgiving and remember all the things that God has provided,
~Elijah & Dembre

Then and Now

On pick-up day (5-28-10)

Dembre & I (11-7-10)

~Elijah & Dembre
P.S. I now have a Shutterfly account for Dembre! Feel free to stop by to see the different pictures from my puppy raising journey!

Fall fun! :D

CCI release dog Dobie II with Dembre

Dobie and Dembre

What a face!

Mr. Dembre on a walk

Dembre in a wheel barrow

ready to go

that's my boy

What a LONG tounge :D

Pictures

I come from a family of pro photographers. So a couple weeks ago my Grandpa did my yearly photo shoot. I saw the pictures of Dembre and I and thought they were so good I would post them on my blog.

A Verse for CCI Graduates :D

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I love this verse! I think it really speaks to puppy raisers, but most of all I see this verse as a verse for CCI graduates. These people have been provided with a dog, who can increase their independence in many ways. And as CCI says it " Some Angels have wings, others have tails." Though these dogs aren't angels they can show those who may feel rejected and alone that someone cares and wants to help. I want God to be the hope and future of the CCI graduates , but I want our dogs to help. 

~Elijah & Dembre

Update

Dembre is doing well! He's kind of hitting one of those "bratty" stages though. He just likes to test me to see what I'll do. I've dealt with this plenty of times in the puppy stage of my own Golden Retriever and my previous foster dogs (for a local rescue).

I just found out all the dates for next years graduations. If Dembre's turn-in remains unchanged I'll be turning him in on November 12 2011. I am hoping to pick up another puppy on the same day or within a weeks time. I also found out that next month all puppy raisers turning in their dogs in the next year will receive their official turn-in date in December. I'm kind of scared, but relieved, because I will find out if Dembre turns-in in August '11 or November '11. I'm fine either way. It feels really weird to be preparing myself for Dembre's turn-in a year in advance.

~Elijah and Dembre

Neo (Dembre's honorary big brother)

Neo, my friend Mary Beth's CCI pup, is turning in 6 days :( Mary Beth was the one who started me on my puppy raising journey and has my highest regards. Neo has been Dembre's big brother and canine mentor since Dembre started training with me. Neo has taught Dembre many things and every time they see each other their tails start wagging and their ears go up. I'm going to miss Neo! Good luck with advanced training :D And good luck to Mary Beth with puppy #12 Michael III :)
Here are some pictures of Dembre and Neo when Dembre was little (picture credits to Mary Beth):

Dembre and Neo are such patient CCI pups

play time

the chase is on

 

 

Cape Shoot- 7 months (part two of Dembre's 7 month photo saga :D)

I took the first 13 pictures out at our pond

these last pictures were taken in our woods

Photoshoot- 7 months (part one)

I love this picture

Such a good dog! I will probably edit this one a little more.

My favorite!!! I ran this one through a blue filter. I love how his eyes shine.

I like this shot

Dembre's pretty good for pictures, but even with how good he is  I probably deleted at least one or two photos for every photo that I kept.

7 months old and so grown up

I like this picture

Add caption

I like the compostition of this picture.

I like how Dembre seems to be gazing at something

The sun came out right as I took this shot, so it's not great. I'm going to try to change the contrast and brightness on photo shop to see if I can get better results

Such  good dog!